2015 Paserene Union

Winemaker Martin Smith of the famous Vilafonté in Stellenbosch started his own business and baptized his company Paserene, the bird breed that includes more than half of all bird species. With his Chardonnay 2015, Martin already scored the top score of 5 stars in the Platter's South African Wine Guide. His three wines, from three different South African terroirs, are darlings of sommeliers and wine connoisseurs. They are spontaneously fermented and the craftsman gives them a carefully dosed wood aging. Paserene aims to produce wines of the highest level. Great care has been taken to ensure that the wines produced and the illustrations on the labels are authentic, ensuring a lasting legacy for years to come. Everything takes place with a focus on quality and respect for people and nature.

Finally… it took a long time for this Union van Paserene to reach the market because it took Martin a lot of effort and thoughtful planning to find the right terroir for this specific wine style because the requirements he sets for these high end wines from Paserene are sometimes against the manic. Nothing is good enough. Grown entirely in the Tulbagh region, the Union is dark and inky. Predominantly Syrah with a little Mourvedre (Monastrell) and Carignan, this wine has ample and complex aromas of blueberries, charcoal, violets and lard. Exotic, smoky and thick with elegance and excellent definition. Extraordinary balance between primary fruit aromas and intense mineral components gives the wine an inviting natural warmth, elegance and brittleness. Just as the Paserene Chardonnay has a Burgundy style, the Union is more of a Southern Rhône blend. The wine has matured for 16 months in older oak.

FACT: The label is set in Tulbagh and carries the message of unification. The two labels on the other labels, the girl on the Paserene Chardonnay (mother nature) and the swift on the Paserene Marathon (the winemaker) have finally found a place to be together. The tree in the background takes on the role of stability and calm that anchors them.